fusillade

play

noun fu·sil·lade \ ˈfyü-sə-ˌläd , -ˌlād , ˌfyü-sə-ˈläd , -ˈlād , -zə- \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of fusillade

1 a :a number of shots fired simultaneously or in rapid succession

b :something that gives the effect of a fusillade

a fusillade of rocks and bottles

2 :a spirited outburst especially of criticism

See fusillade defined for English-language learners

See fusillade defined for kids

Examples of fusillade in a Sentence

A fusillade of bullets filled the courtyard.
responded calmly to the fusillade of criticism leveled at his design for the memorial

Recent Examples of fusillade from the Web

And conservative media outlets directed a fusillade of criticism.

— anthony man, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Trump, conservative media focus on Wasserman Schultz firestorm," 27 July 2017
Last year, National Collegiate unleashed a fusillade of litigation against Samantha Watson, a 33-year-old mother of three who graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx in 2013 with a degree in psychology.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "$5 billion in student loan debts may be wiped away due to missing paperwork," 19 July 2017
Last year, National Collegiate unleashed a fusillade of litigation against Samantha Watson, a 33-year-old mother of three who graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx in 2013 with a degree in psychology.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "$5 billion in student loan debts may be wiped away due to missing paperwork," 19 July 2017
Last year, National Collegiate unleashed a fusillade of litigation against Samantha Watson, a 33-year-old mother of three who graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx in 2013 with a degree in psychology.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "$5 billion in student loan debts may be wiped away due to missing paperwork," 19 July 2017
Last year, National Collegiate unleashed a fusillade of litigation against Samantha Watson, a 33-year-old mother of three who graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx in 2013 with a degree in psychology.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "$5 billion in student loan debts may be wiped away due to missing paperwork," 19 July 2017
Last year, National Collegiate unleashed a fusillade of litigation against Samantha Watson, a 33-year-old mother of three who graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx in 2013 with a degree in psychology.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "As paperwork goes missing, private student loan debts may be wiped away," 18 July 2017
Last year, National Collegiate unleashed a fusillade of litigation against Samantha Watson, a 33-year-old mother of three who graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx in 2013 with a degree in psychology.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "As paperwork goes missing, private student loan debts may be wiped away," 18 July 2017
Last year, National Collegiate unleashed a fusillade of litigation against Samantha Watson, a 33-year-old mother of three who graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx in 2013 with a degree in psychology.

— the new york times, cleveland.com, "As paperwork goes missing, private student loan debts may be wiped away," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fusillade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fusillade

borrowed from French, from fusiller "to shoot with a musket volley" (from fusil ²fusil + -iller, causative prefix, going back to Latin -iculāre, derivative of -iculum, instrumental and diminutive suffix) + -ade -ade

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1801

See Words from the same year

fusillade Synonyms

Synonyms

blitz, blitzkrieg, bombardment, cannonade, drumbeat, drumfire, flurry, barrage, hail, salvo, shower, storm, volley

Related Words

broadside, earful; avalanche, burst, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, discharge, engulfment, flood, flood tide, flush, gush, inundation, outburst, outflow, outpouring, overflow, rash, spate, surge, torrent; current, river, stream, tide; excess, glut, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus

Near Antonyms

dribble, drip, trickle

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

FUSILLADE Defined for English Language Learners

fusillade

play

noun

Definition of fusillade for English Language Learners

: a large number of shots that are fired very quickly

Learn More about fusillade

See words that rhyme with fusillade Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fusillade Spanish Central: Translation of fusillade Nglish: Translation of fusillade for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fusillade? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

fusillade

Definition of fusillade

Examples of fusillade in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fusillade from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fusillade

fusillade Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Military Terms

FUSILLADE Defined for English Language Learners

fusillade

Definition of fusillade for English Language Learners

Learn More about fusillade

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

anathematize

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Meat Sweats': The Competitive Eater's Worst Nightmare

'Diffuse' vs. 'Defuse'

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

True or False?

Citation

'Meat Sweats': The Competitive Eater's Worst Nightmare

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066

fusillade

Definition of fusillade

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of fusillade in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fusillade from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fusillade

fusillade Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Military Terms

FUSILLADE Defined for English Language Learners

fusillade

Definition of fusillade for English Language Learners

Learn More about fusillade

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Meat Sweats': The Competitive Eater's Worst Nightmare

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066